Drum Type Washing Machine

ABSTRACT

A drum type washing machine which performs a drying function is provided having improved drying efficiency. The drum type washing machine includes a tub disposed inside a cabinet to receive water, a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub to receive laundry, and a suction duct communicating with the tub. One end of the suction duct communicates with the tub, and the opposed end of the suction duct is a free end which remains disconnected from nearby structures, and is located inside the cabinet. The tub further includes a discharge hole. The water and air passing through the discharge hole are separated and discharged outside the cabinet along a drainage pipe and an exhaust duct, respectively.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine which performs a drying function, and more particularly to a drum type washing machine that has improved drying efficiency.

2. Description of the Related Art

A front-loaded, drum type washing machine is a machine designed to clean laundry with detergent and water in a drum by rotating the drum about a horizontal axis, with a drive force of a motor. The front-loaded drum type washing machine has many advantages when compared to a top-loading washing machine, such as less laundry damage and entanglement, and more cleaning effectiveness due to laundry pounding and rubbing effects in a washing operation.

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation view of a conventional drum type washing machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, the washing machine includes a cabinet 1 having an opening defined in a front side thereof, a door 2 hingably attached to the cabinet 1 to open or close the opening, and a tub 3 disposed inside the cabinet 1 to receive water.

A drum 4 having holes on an outer peripheral surface is rotatably disposed inside the tub 3, and a motor assembly 5 is disposed through the tub 3 to supply a drive force to the drum 4.

The door 2 is provided with a door glass 2 a that protrudes outside an opening of the tub 3.

A spring 6 is disposed between an inner upper side of the cabinet 1 and an outer upper side of the tub 3 to support the tub 3, and a damper (not shown) is disposed between an inner lower side of the cabinet 1 and an outer lower side of the tub 3 to reduce vibration of the tub 3 generated during the operation of the drum type washing machine.

The motor assembly 5 is generally operated in an indirect drive manner such that the drive force of a motor 5 a is transferred to a washing operation shaft 5 c via a belt 5 b to rotate the drum 4.

The washing machine includes a drying duct 7 disposed at the inner upper side of the cabinet 1. The drying duct 7 has a heater 7 b and a blow fan 7 a to generate and blow hot air.

The drying duct 7 is connected at one end to a gasket 8, which bridges the circumference of the opening of the tub 3 to the circumference of the opening in the cabinet 1 for the door 2.

In other words, the gasket 8 is disposed along a front inner circumference of the tub 3 and has a corrugated shape to receive vibration from the tub 3. By connecting the end of the drying duct to the gasket 8, it is possible to prevent leakage of hot air through the connection between the drying duct 7 and the tub 3.

Further, the tub 3 is provided with a condensing duct 9 that communicates with the drying duct 7. Here, the condensing duct 9 is connected at one end to the rear of the tub 3, and at the other end to the drying duct 7. The condensing duct 9 is provided with a condensed water supply tube to supply condensing water that serves to condense and remove moisture from air.

On the other hand, the condensing water supply tube 9 a is a separate component independent of the condensing duct 9 and is fitted into a securing groove formed on an upper portion of the condensing duct 9. At this time, the condensing water supply tube 9 a is connected at one side to a water supply hose.

With the construction as described above, the operation of the drum type washing machine with a drying function includes a washing cycle, a rinsing cycle, spin-drying cycle, and a drying cycle.

The drying cycle of the washing machine with the drying function is as follows.

When the drying cycle of the washing machine is started, electrical power is applied to the heater 7 b of the drying duct 7. Then, the blow fan 7 a and heater 7 b are operated to blow hot air from the blow fan 7 a.

The hot air collides with a slanted section of the door glass 2 a and is introduced into the drum 4 as guided by the drying duct 7.

Within the drum 4, the hot air evaporates moisture from laundry while heating the laundry. At this time, the drum 4 is rotated at a low speed to stir the laundry in the drum 4 such that the laundry can be uniformly exposed to the hot air, thereby promoting evaporation of moisture from the laundry.

Evaporated moisture is discharged in a state of being contained in air through the condensing duct 9. At this time, the moisture is removed from the air by spraying water from the condensing water supply tube 9 a. Then, the air, after having the moisture removed, is introduced again into the drying duct 7, and is changed to hot air by the heater 7 b and blow fan 7 a, which in turn flows again into the drum 4 for the drying operation. In this manner, laundry is dried by repeating such an aforementioned series of processes.

In the conventional drum type washing machine that is designed to remove moisture from air by circulating the air with condensing water, there is a limit to the reduction in the amount of moisture in the air using this technique. As a result, air of high humidity is introduced inside the drum and thus is used to perform the drying cycle, providing a low drying efficiency.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is conceived to solve the problems of the conventional washing machine as described above, and an aspect of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine that has improved drying efficiency.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a drum type washing machine includes: a tub disposed inside a cabinet; a drum disposed inside the tub; and a suction duct communicating with the tub.

The suction duct may be disposed at an upper side of the tub.

The suction duct may be connected at one end to a through-hole formed on a rear side of the tub, and have the opposed end located as a free end inside the cabinet. Further, the drum may formed to have inflow holes at a location corresponding to the location of the tub through-hole. The inflow holes may be arranged in a circular band shape on a rear side of the drum.

The drum type washing machine may further include: an exhaust duct communicating with the tub and extending to an outside of the cabinet; an exhaust fan disposed at a discharge hole side of the tub; and a motor to drive the exhaust fan. The exhaust duct may communicate with the discharge hole, an extension conduit and a housing may be disposed between the discharge hole and the exhaust duct, and the exhaust fan may be disposed in the housing. Further, the tub may be provided with balancers separated from each other, and the extension conduit may be disposed between the balancers. The housing may have a bottom surface located a predetermined height higher than that of the extension conduit to form a step between the bottom surfaces of the housing and the extension conduit. Further, the washing machine may further include a drainage pump to drain water from the tub to an outside of the cabinet, and a connection pipe extending between the bottom surface of the extension conduit and the drainage pump. The discharge hole may be disposed at a lower side of the tub.

The washing machine may further include a heater disposed inside the suction duct.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a sectional side elevation view of a conventional drum type washing machine;

FIG. 2 is a sectional side elevation view of a drum type washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a tub of the drum type washing machine in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view of a drum of the drum type washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. For descriptive convenience, the present invention will be described with a front-loaded drum type washing machine having a condensation type dryer given by way of illustration. In the disclosure of the present invention, the drawings may be exaggerated in thickness of lines or scale of components for the purpose of descriptive convenience and clarity only. Furthermore, terms used herein should be defined in consideration of functions of components of the present invention and thus can be changed according to the custom or intention of users or operators. Therefore, definition of such terms should be determined according to overall disclosures set forth herein.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the drum type washing machine includes a cabinet 50, a tub 52 inside the cabinet 50 to receive water, a drum 54 rotatably disposed inside the tub 52 to receive laundry, a drive unit 58 provided to the tub 52 and connected to the drum 54, a water supply device 56 extending from an outside of the cabinet 50 to the tub 52, a drainage unit 59 extending through the tub 52 to the outside of the cabinet 50, and a dryer to remove moisture from washed laundry.

When the washing machine is started to operate with laundry received inside the drum 54, water is supplied into the tub 52 and drum 54 through the water supply device 56, and after the supply of water is completed, the drum 54 is rotated to perform a washing operation by application of power to the drive unit 58.

When the washing operation is completed, water is discharged outside the cabinet 50 through the drainage unit 59, followed by a drying operation of the washing machine to remove remaining moisture from the laundry by means of the dryer.

The dryer includes a suction duct 60 communicating with the tub 52, an exhaust duct 70 communicating with the tub 52 and extending to the outside of the cabinet 50, an exhaust fan 72 disposed at a side of a discharge hole 52 b of the tub 52, and a motor 74 connected to a rotational shaft of the exhaust fan 72. The suction duct 60 is preferably provided therein with a heater 62 to heat air being introduced into the suction duct 60. Additionally, in order to draw in external air of a low humidity from the outside the tub 52, the suction duct 60 is connected at one end 64 to the tub 52, and has a free end 66 formed at the end opposed to the one end 64. Preferably, the free end 66 of the suction duct 60 remains disconnected from nearby structures, and is located inside the cabinet 50 to reduce the amount of dust in the air being drawn in through the suction duct 60.

A tub through-hole 52 a is formed on the rear of the tub 52 to be connected with the suction duct 60, and the discharge hole 52 b is formed at the opening of the tub 52 to communicate with the exhaust duct 70.

When the drying operation is started, power is applied to the motor 74 to drive the exhaust fan 72 along with rotation of the drum 54 at a predetermined speed or less by the drive unit 58, allowing air to be introduced from the outside.

While being introduced along the suction duct 60, the air is heated and converted to dry hot air by the heater 62. Thus, when it comes into contact with laundry moving inside the drum 54, the dry hot air absorbs moisture from the laundry. Then, the air containing the moisture is discharged outside the cabinet through the exhaust duct 70 via the exhaust fan 72.

During the washing operation, water can flow out through the suction duct 60, or discharged water can flow into the tub 52 through the suction duct 60. Accordingly, the suction duct 60 is preferably located at an upper side of the tub 52. Further, to provide an extended contact time between air being introduced from above and the laundry while ensuring uniform distribution of the air to the laundry, the discharge hole 52 b is preferably located at a lower side of the tub 52. More preferably, the discharge hole 52 b is located in a diagonal direction with respect to the suction duct 60 through which air is sucked into the cabinet 50. In this embodiment, the suction duct 60 is disposed on an inner wall of the cabinet 50, and is bent in a

-shape to have one end 64 connected to the rear of the tub 52 and the opposed end 66 located as a free end inside the cabinet 50.

With such an arrangement of the suction duct 60 as described above, air inside the cabinet 50 can be forced to flow into the tub 52 through the suction duct 60.

Further, for improved drying efficiency, an extension conduit 76 and a housing 78 are disposed between the discharge hole 52 b and the exhaust duct, and the exhaust fan 72 is disposed inside the housing 78. In combination with operation of the exhaust fan 72, internal air is discharged from the drum 54 to the outside through the exhaust duct 70, and external air of a low humidity is supplied into the drum 52 through the suction duct 60. As such, since air having the low humidity is supplied into the drum 52, the drying efficiency of the washing machine is improved.

The tub 52 has a pair of balancers 80 disposed in a separated state on opposed sides of the tub opening 52 c (FIG. 3). The extension conduit 76 is disposed between the balancers 80 so as not to interfere with the balancers 80.

In order to allow external air that has flowed into the tub 52 to be supplied into the drum 54, the rear side of the drum 54 is provided with inflow holes 54 a. The inflow holes 54 a are formed to extend through the rear side of the drum 54 at a location corresponding to the location of the tub through-hole 52 a. The plural inflow holes 54 a are spaced at predetermined intervals from each other. Since the drum 54 is rotated during use, the inflow holes 54 a are preferably formed in a circular band shape on the rear side of the drum 54. Since the tub through-hole 52 a continues to face the inflow holes 54 a during the rotation of the drum 54, the air having flowed into the tub 52 through the tub through-hole 52 can be supplied into the drum 54 via the inflow holes 54 a.

The bottom of the housing 78 is located a predetermined height above that of the extension conduit 76 to form a step 77 between the bottom surfaces of the housing 78 and the extension conduit 76, and a connection pipe 79 is disposed between the bottom of the extension conduit 76 and the drainage pump 59 b. Accordingly, when flowing into the extension conduit 76 through the discharge hole 52 b, water is accumulated on the bottom surface of the extension conduit 76, and is then discharged to the outside of the cabinet 50 through the drainage unit 59. Specifically, water flows into the connection pipe 79 and discharged by the drainage pump 59 a outside of the cabinet 50 through the drainage pipe 59 a.

Next, operation of the washing machine having the construction as above according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described.

When the drying operation is started after the washing operation, power is applied to the drive unit 58 to rotate the drum 54. Further, when the motor 74 is driven, the exhaust fan 72 is rotated to circulate air inside the cabinet. As the exhaust fan 72 is rotated, the air inside the cabinet flows into the drum 54 through the tub through-hole 52 a and the inflow holes 54 a via the suction duct 60, where the air is changed to dry hot air by the heater 62. The dry hot air comes into contact with laundry within the drum 54, absorbs moisture from the laundry, and is then exhausted outside the cabinet 50 through the exhaust duct 70 along the discharge hole 52 b, extension conduit 76, housing 78, and exhaust fan 72. Here, water passing through the discharge hole 52 b is accumulated on the bottom of the extension conduit 76, and is then discharged outside the cabinet 50 through the drainage pump 59 b and drainage pipe 59 a via the extension conduit 76. Air flowing into the extension conduit 76 through the discharge hole 52 b is directed toward the exhaust duct 70 by the exhaust fan 72, and is then exhausted outside the cabinet 50. As such, the water and air passing through the discharge hole 52 b are separated and discharged outside the cabinet 50 along the drainage pipe 59 a and the exhaust duct 70, respectively.

Since the extension conduit 76 on the front side of the tub 52 is disposed between the balancers 80 so as to have a predetermined separation between the extension conduit 76 and the balancers 80, the extension conduit 76 is prevented from contacting the balancers 80 when the drying operation or the washing operation is performed as described above.

As apparent from the above description, the washing machine according to the present invention has improved drying efficiency by performing a drying operation with air of high temperature and low humidity.

Further, the washing machine of the invention circulates air using an exhaust fan, enabling efficient circulation of air, and thus reducing time and cost for the drying operation.

Further, in the washing machine of the invention, the free end 66 of a suction duct is located inside the cabinet, thereby preventing foreign matter from entering the tub 52.

Further, in the washing machine of the invention, the suction duct 60 is disposed at an upper side of the tub 52, so that air flowing into the tub 52 is uniformly distributed to laundry inside a drum 54, and so that air having a low humidity is drawn into the tub 52.

Further, in the washing machine, the suction duct 60 communicates with the upper side of the tub 52, and the discharge hole 52 b is disposed at the lower side of the tub 52. Accordingly, the washing machine ensures an extended contact time between inflow air and laundry, uniform distribution of air with respect to the laundry, and improved drying efficiency.

Further, the washing machine has plural balancers 80 separated from each other to prevent intervention between a drying device and other components, thereby suppressing vibration during the drying and washing operations. Therefore, the washing machine avoids being damaged, and also performs quiet and stable washing and drying operations.

Moreover, the washing machine has a step 77 formed between the extension conduit 76 and a housing 78, and is provided with a connection pipe 79 to guide water accumulated on the bottom of the extension conduit 76 to a drainage pump 59 b, so that air and water passing through a discharge hole 52 b are discharged in a separated state to the outside, and so that malfunction or corrosion-related damage of an exhaust fan 72 caused by contact between water and the exhaust fan is prevented, thereby extending a lifetime of the washing machine.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings, the embodiments and drawings are given by way of illustration only, and, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of the present invention should be limited only by the accompanying claims. 

1. A drum type washing machine, comprising: a tub disposed inside a cabinet, the tub including a tub through-hole formed in a first side of the tub; a drum disposed inside the tub; and a suction duct including a first end, and a second end opposed to the first end, wherein the suction duct is connected at the first end to the tub through-hole, and the second end is a free end.
 2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the suction duct is disposed at an upper side of the tub.
 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the tub through-hole is disposed at an upper side of the tub.
 4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the suction duct is disposed inside the cabinet.
 5. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drum has at least one inflow hole disposed thereon at a location corresponding to location of the tub through-hole, the at least one inflow hole arranged in a circular band shape on a side of the drum.
 6. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the tub further includes a tub discharge hole formed in a second side of the tub, the washing machine further comprising: an exhaust duct communicating with the tub discharge hole and extending to an outside of the cabinet; an exhaust fan disposed at the second side of the tub; and a motor to drive the exhaust fan.
 7. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein an extension conduit and a housing are disposed between the discharge hole and the exhaust duct, and the exhaust fan is disposed in the housing.
 8. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the tub further includes plural balancers, wherein the balancers are provided so as to be separated from each other, and the extension conduit is disposed between two of said plural balancers.
 9. The washing machine according to claim 7, wherein the housing has a bottom surface located a predetermined height above that of the extension conduit to form a step between the bottom surfaces of the housing and the extension conduit.
 10. The washing machine according to claim 9, further comprising: a drainage pump to discharge water from the tub to an outside of the cabinet; and a connection pipe extending between the bottom surface of the extension conduit and the drainage pump.
 11. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the discharge hole is disposed at a lower side of the tub.
 12. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: a heater disposed inside the suction duct.
 13. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the first side of the tub is opposed to the second side of the tub, the discharge hole is disposed at a lower side of the tub, and the tub through-hole is disposed at an upper side of the tub.
 14. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the cabinet comprises a door formed in a front-facing side thereof, a second side of the tub comprises a tub opening corresponding to the door, and the first side of the tub opposes the second side.
 15. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second end of the suction duct is disposed between an interior surface of the cabinet and an exterior surface of the tub. 